Photo at right: Police conduct a terrorist attack prevention drill in May. Photo by Daniel DeBoom.
1:00pm | The cities of Long Beach and Los Angeles will receive $53 million homeland security grant to enhance preparedness in the event of a terrorist attack. The full grant is worth more than $69.9 million but the California Emergency Management Agency (CalEMA) retains 20% of the award, and “administrative costs” also equate to an additional five-percent.
Long Beach Mayor Bob Foster joined Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and L.A. County Sheriff Lee Baca to announce the grant yesterday in downtown Los Angeles. Mayor Villaraigosa’s Office of Homeland Security and Public Safety will manage the full $53,140,831 on behalf of the entire region, according to a press release today.
The funding comes from the Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI), which is a grant program authorized by Congress in 2003. The program receives funding from CalEMA, which is funded by the federal Department of Homeland Security.
More than 60 urban areas throughout the country receive UASI funding, and the Los Angeles/Long Beach Urban Area (LA/LB UA) received the second highest amount this year.
“These UASI funds are vital to Long Beach and the region in helping to prevent, detect, and respond to a terrorist attack,” said Long Beach Mayor Bob Foster. “If the L.A./Long Beach area were attacked, the results would be devastating and felt throughout the country. This funding is important in protecting our residents, our infrastructure and economy.”
One of the main purposes that the funding will serve is “developing integrated regional systems for prevention, protection, response and recovery,” according to a release.
In fact, approximately 67% of the funding will be put towards communications capabilities, information sharing and investigations. The other 33% will pay for infrastructure protection and planning, response and recovery.
Sheriff Baca spoke about the importance of this integrated communications collabroation, and increasing regional cooperation, saying, “Joint effort, prevention, response, and recovery is a solid and sensible way in protecting the citizens of Los Angeles County.”
A breakdown of the projects that will receive funding shows that intelligence and communications are a high priority – such as a Shared Resources Public Safety Portal and Network, automated license plate readers and a digital forensic lab network – as well as training and equipment for Bomb Squad kits and SWAT equipment. The lbpost.com is awaiting word from Mayor Villaraigosa’s office on exactly what the heck some of these things are. The full list is provided below:
• Joint Hazard Assessment Team and Joint Terrorism Task Force
• Fire Captain Position and JRIC Personnel
• Shared Resources Public Safety Portal and Network
• Automated License Plate Reader Systems
• Digital Forensic Lab Network with Centralized Server
• Los Angeles Regional Common Operational Picture Program (LARCOPP)
• Port of Los Angeles Crime Intelligence Analyst, Generator, and Satellite
Radio Communications System
• Bomb Squad Kits, SWAT equipment, air support surveillance camera
• Area Wireless Reconnaissance & Evaluation (AWARE) equipment
• Regional Video Command System
• Emergency Management Mutual Aid and Assistance Training
• Regional Training Center Props and Equipment
• CBRNE, HazMat, WMD, DAC, TLO, and USAR Training
• Hydra Operations Exercises
• Patient Tracking System and MCI Trailers
• Community Emergency Response Training
Long Beach Chief of Police Jim McDonnell and Fire Chief Alan Patalano were also in attendance at yesterday’s announcement.